Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-03-07
BEECHER STRICKEN.
The Great Divine Sinking
Under an Apoplectic
Stroke.
A Case in Which The Physicians Hold
Out Very Little Hope.

and now lies unconscious. While hop
ing that the attack may not prove fatal,
grave fears are entertained by his family
and intimate friends that his labors as
pastor in this world have ended. Mr..
Beecher resides with his son, Col. Henry
Beecher, at the corner of Hicks and
CLARK streets, in Brooklyn. A son who
is in ting. west; another in San Francisco,
and Mrs. Schofield, his daughter, have
been teleRraphed for. Col. Beecher has
also telegraphed for his son, who is at
Yale college. Col. Beecher and his
brother, ex-Assistant District Attorney
William Q. Beecher, with his wife ana
Mrs. Beecher were at the bedside of the
great clergyman all day to-day. They
were completely overcome with grief at
his condition. He has always been IN
such good health, and vas apparently SO
hale for his age, that they could hardly
realize that he was lying there in
such q helpless condition. His attack
came on 30 gradually that his wife and
son were unable to realize the full extent
Of his illness. Between two and three
o'clock yesterday morning Mr.. Beecher
awoke. He complained of being sick.
His wife arose to get him something to
drink. He began to vomit freely, and
then lay back upon his pillow apparently
exhausted. In a short time he fell
asleep. Mrs. Beecher concluded that he
would feel better in a few hours. The
first breakfast bell rang but did not
awaken hin. The second bell also passed
UNDECIDED. Mrs. Beecher had been up
for some time and did not wish to dis
turb him. Becoming alarmed, she made
an attempt to arouse him, but could not
do so. She called her son and daughter
in-law. They tried to arouse him. He
tried to speak, but his voice was thick
and articulation iraistinet. DR.. w. s.
Searle, the family physician was called
in. He pronounced Mr.. Beeoher quite i'll
butdid not apprehend immediate danger.
During the day Mr.. Beecher seemed to
improve and hopes were entertained that
he would rally. Medicine was give and
every change was noted. This morning hs
appeared to be worse and it was decided
to call IN DR.. w. A. Hammond, of New
York, in consultation with DR.. Searles,
Before noonBeecher lapssd into uncon-
seriousness and was in that condition
when DIR. Hammond reached the house.
DR.. Hammond pronounced him IN a criti-
cal condition. He thought that as the
patient was Q naturally strong man he
might rally. He assured the family that
there was some hope. He left shortly
sitter 2 O'Clock.
Col. Beecher said tonight that his
father did not seem to suffer any pain
and when aroused seemed to recognize
him and Mrs. Beeoher. His articulation
was too indistinct to be understood.
DIR. Hammond was called in as an <
pert in brain troubles. The family of
Dol. Beecher said they at first thought
the attack was biliousness. 1t was de-
cided to issue hourly bulletins to in
form anxious friends of Beecher's con-
dition.
The chances OF Beecher's recover are
stated by DIR. William 8. Scare, his
family physician in the following words:
He may live q day and he may live o.
week. and there is o bare possibility that
he may survive the shock, but his full
mental and bodily faculties can never
be restored" Beecher's illness was alto
gether unexpected. He was in his usual
good health up to last Thursday even
ing. He ate at night a supper consisting
of half a dozen roast CLAIMS and spent the
evening playing backgammon with Mrs.
Beecher. He retired early and did not
Foomplain of feeling unwell.
He, however, appeared restless after
lying down. SO much SO that he attracted
the attention CT his wife. He told her
he had been suffering with a severe
headache all night, an afliction to which
he is O comparative stranger. He
vomited profusely and said he felt a
little better. Shortly after he fell asleep
and slept without q break until $3.50
O'Clock Friday afternoon. Els was not
IIo{yrnknd IY.xrnr This &Sroo o1 "a L..
been his habit for years to sleep in that
manner when out OF sorts, He was ae1
eustomed to say that sleep was one of
his grandest remedies.
DR.. hutchinson was called by Mrs.
Neecher. The doctor said to O reporter:
II reached the house at $50 O'Clock 1
yesterday afternoon and found Beecher
sleepiDg. His appearance was quite |
natural, although / thought his face was
drawn somewhat to the right side. The /
skin, especially of his extremities, was
cool but not cold. / easily aroused Mr, |
Beecher and he was perfectly conscious. |
I said to him:
You've slept SO long that yonr wife
became worried and sent for me-
Yes he responded, Il have slept a
good while. I've been dreaming. IT
was rather a pleasant sort of q dream
too. You know I haze always been d
great dreamer
And what was your dream? p Iasked
L thought was the reply, that l
had been made a duke and my wife q
duchess. I dreamed we had q large
amount of property invested in British
oonsols and I've been trying all night to
figure out the income" You know, doc
tor, that arithmetic has always been o
great source OF trouble to me-"
The doctor continued: II took my
patients pulse. 1t was about eighty
and I thought was too full and too hard.
He wa lying on his back, and he moved
all his limbs with apparent freedom. His
symptoms were much the same as he has |
been accustomed to 10 attacks OF indiges. |
ton or biliousness, and both myself and |
the family concluded that nothing more
serious was threatened. i prescribed APP
propriate remedies and left. not having |
been in the house more than half an
hour. / called again, however, at 10
O'Clock the same evening. At that time
/ found the pulse much better. 1t was
softer and somewhat reduced |
in frequency. | observed, how
ever, that Beecher's articulation
was thick. He seemed drowsy, but
answered questions readily. HeI
seemed On the whole better
than in the afternoon. I was
however, apprehensive that his con-
dition was more serions than it appear
ed on the surface. and when Iaft IL